New Zealand Maori set to defend Churchill Cup
Posted by Hamish McBrearty on May 30th, 2007
A 50-22 win against Ireland ‘A’ has sent the New Zealand Maori team through to the final of the Churchill cup this weekend.
After surviving a fierce Irish assault for the first half hour, the NZ Maori’s superior fitness gave them the edge to romp away with the game in the second half. The Maori now go on to the cup final where they will face England Saxons, who qualified for the final after beating Scotland ‘A’ on Tuesday.
Ireland ‘A’ began the game strongly, scoring the first try of the match after just three minutes when second-five Darren Cave crashed over from a line-out drive. The deficit was cut by Maori first five Tamati Ellison just two minute later with a penalty goal, before the Maori’s first attacking raid resulted in a try to winger Hose Gear.
The Irish would retake the lead when second five Keith Earls ghosted through the defence, but the simple conversion was missed by Johnny Sexton. The Maori then put themselves under further pressure when prop Ben May was yellow carded for a professional foul.
Despite being down to 14 men the Maori defence was able to hold on, then launch some counter-attacks of their own. In the 31st minute the Irish were split open by an incisive run from Gear, who was stopped centimetres from the goal line, but full-back Shannon Paku was there to claim the try.
It was then the turn of the Irish to dig themselves into a hole, first having half-back Frank Murphy shown a yellow card for a professional foul and then allowing Ellison over just a minute later. The conversion from Dwayne Sweeney made the half time score 24-12.
Things went from bad to worse for Ireland ‘A’ in the second half as exhaustion set in and the Maori punished them with try after try. Gear recorded his second try of the match in the 43rd minute and May atoned for his sin binning with a try in the 56th minute.
Ireland did manage two late consolation tries to Cave and replacement lock David Gannon, by the Maori had the final say of the match when replacement Callum Bruce scored in the final minute of the game.
Finals day for the 2007 Churchill Cup is on Saturday at Twickenham where fans will be treated to three games back to back. First Canada plays the USA for the Churchill Plate, then Ireland ‘A’ face Scotland ‘A’ for the Churchill Bowl and finally NZ Maori play England Saxons for the Churchill Cup.
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The New Zealand Maori set to defend Churchill Cup by Hamish McBrearty, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
